lovetheblues Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 (edited) Hi all, I am considering purchasing one of two used cabs, and I am wondering which (if either) would best suit my style of music. For those of you familar with either, or preferably, both these cabs, I am wondering what you think. Cab 1: Ampeg SVT Classic 410 BE, USA made, 8 ohms, 500 watts (sealed) Cab 2: Avatar B410 with the ceramic magnets, 8 ohms, 1400 watts (ported) I play through an Ampeg PF 500 head, and usually play blues, motown, blues-rock, and jazz. Also, any tests or checks that I should do for these cabs I check them out? Thanks much! Cheers, Steve Edited January 15, 2012 by lovetheblues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I love Ampeg cabs, and have had an SVT 410HE, though this was prior to having my PF500. If using it as a standalone cab, the only thing I would consider is how loud is your band. I point this out as Ampeg cabs aren`t the loudest cabs out there - though I`d love to have one of these again as a standalone, I just can`t lift that weight anymore. I`ve no experience with Avatar cabs at all, aside from they have great customer service - I sent them a query, and the response was great. When I bought my PF500 I tried it through an Ampeg cab, and it ws just soooooo nice. If you like Ampeg sound, I`d try the HE out first, then try to stop grinning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 [quote name='lovetheblues' timestamp='1326664433' post='1500282'] Cab 1: Ampeg SVT Classic 410 BE, USA made, 8 ohms, 500 watts (sealed) Cab 2: Avatar B410 with the ceramic magnets, 8 ohms, 1400 watts (ported) [/quote]Avoid the Avatar. The drivers used, Delta 10s, are marginal for electric bass use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 [quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1326719839' post='1500893'] Avoid the Avatar. The drivers used, Delta 10s, are marginal for electric bass use. [/quote] Indeed ignore thge numbers. The Ampeg will be a lot better, and you can't go wrong with Ampeg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Not convinced by Ampegs cabs myself but the most pertinent point is about the Avatar drivers, so I'd go Ampeg, since you like the amp. At least the cab should be a decent match and better resale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]If you have to have a 410 cab my advice would be to investigate Mesa Boogie, Eden and Bergantino. [/font][/color][/size][color=#222222][font=Arial][size=1][/size][/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Or..if you are widening the search, try a SWR Goliath ll..or even a lll. SH cheap as chips and an even better cab for that. IME...bang for buck £300 for a SWR G ll in GC is THE deal out there. You have to like big 410's but then the Ampeg is no lightweight...and you should know the sound is clean and therefore not so forgiving up close...( know the sound ) but the bass end can be awesome. They pop up here pretty often, I'd say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 I'd go with the Ampeg out of those two, definitely best for the more trad sounds you're into. I'd also agree that bang for buck the SWR Goliath II is THE best 4x10 you'll get for under £300. Its taken me 15 years to find something that comes close, and that has 12" not 10" speakers in it - and still not quite as much Low end. As a shameless plug, if you're interested in a genuinely roadworn SWR Goliath II (1200w into 4ohms) PM me - I am thinking of selling mine in the next couple of weeks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 ....but he's in the US! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Getting hold of SWR in the U.S for even better money shouldn't be a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 (edited) Hmm. Ampeg will be super cheap over in the US, but then again, check out the new Genz Focuslite 4x10. The price will be excellent and so will the service and reliability. If I had to buy another 4x10 myself, I'd buy an Aguilar DB410. Heavy, but stunning. Edited January 16, 2012 by Musicman20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 [quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1326757853' post='1501722'] Hmm. Ampeg will be super cheap over in the US, but then again, check out the new Genz Focuslite 4x10. The price will be excellent and so will the service and reliability. If I had to buy another 4x10 myself, I'd buy an Aguilar DB410. Heavy, but stunning. [/quote] I have a pair of DB210's and DB's by name, DB's by nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1326732422' post='1501203'] ....but he's in the US! [/quote] oops! hadn't spotted that one! You should be able to pick a good one up over there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetheblues Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 Hey all - thanks so much for your thoughts! The SWR sounds tempting, but from what I've been reading around, you need some power to drive those cabs - 500+ into 8 ohms is what people are recommending to really make use of the cab. I only get 300 at 8 ohms from the PF 500 head, so I'm not sure thats the one for me at this point. The Genz Benz also looks great, but out of my price range right now. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 300watts into SWR G 8 ohm should be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razze06 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I've recently checked out the fender rumble 410, which sound very warm and classic (and ampeggy) for not much money. Don't know how dear they are in the US, but well worth considering if you are after that kind of sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'll second what JTUK says. I've had my SWR for years and years and used everything from a 50W Sound City valve head to a 350w Hartke (originally this gave me 200w into 8 ohms until I upgraded the drivers to make it a 4 ohm cab) I have never run out of headroom, even playing large venues. Its worth noting that mine is a Goliath ii (before Fender came along) and I can't speak for the more modern ones Goliath iii etc. I have heard that they are not so good after the accountants paid a visit to the design studio, so maybe the more modern ones are less efficient... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Maybe... My feeling with SWR was that they started out as a small but top drawer outfit for pro bass monitors. Once Fender came along and shifted manufactoring costs..and possibly locations, then the pro product element got diluted somewhat. I certainly regard the amps along these lines. The SWR Goliath ll was a stonking cab and can still hold its own today, IMO... but you might not be too keen to lug it around. How they stack up now is a consideration, possibIy, ............ I doubt the design spec has down-graded so much but the component spec may well have. I didn't think my Goliath jnr lll was as good as the Goliath ll, for sure. SWR and Eden both went the same way, IMO...great to start with..and swept all before them..but they don't do that now...IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I agree. Funnily enough, My Goliath ii says 'Designed by EDEN' on it just below the input socket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 [quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1327058856' post='1505748'] ....My Goliath ii says 'Designed by EDEN' on it just below the input socket.... [/quote] David Nordschow designed cabs for SWR and made the 10" speakers for Mesa Boogie before starting Eden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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